|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 19:56:10 GMT -5
"Yes," Michael said, nodding. "But I need to open the store back up." He tightened his arms around Dare and turned his head to press a light kiss to Dare's neck. The are you okay that threatened was pushed away when he realized that it wasn't the smartest question in the world at the moment. He would stay with Dare if he really needed him, would stay and comfort him, but the shop needed to be open. It wasn't even about the money, it was about the responsibility.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 20:12:04 GMT -5
Dare returned Michael's kiss, his own arms tightening for a moment. He didn't look forward to facing any more customers, but he wanted so badly to hold onto that little image of him and Michael sitting behind the counter planning together. A minute or two passed before Dare pulled a quick breath, then nodded and forced himself to lift his head. He felt that stabbing of anger at the store again, as though anything was its fault, but he kept that to himself. "I'll go with you," he said softly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 20:14:57 GMT -5
"Thank you," Michael said, forcing down his own anger and replacing it with a smile. "I don't think we'll have any other problems today." There were more old ladies that came in on Saturdays, but none of them were as gossipy as the first, they were sweeter and always asked how his day had been, even if he could still tell that some of them didn't completely agree with his lifestyle choices. They were still polite to him, though perhaps they were only polite in fear of the ex Death Eater poisoning their dog's food.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 20:22:21 GMT -5
Dare nodded, though he couldn't imagine that being true, not after the damage that first article had done. He told himself that maybe this would push them together again, even as his mind told him that they'd been fine this morning. Dare finally pulled his gaze up to Michael's, and his lips curved slightly. They'd survived so much worse. He leaned forward to steal a quick kiss, and told himself he'd let Michael take him downstairs again after.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 20:47:24 GMT -5
Michael felt himself relax almost immediately into Dare's kiss. He let it go possibly for a little longer than he should have before he finally pulled away from Dare, his hands lingering before he pulled away completely. "Do you want to bring that trace paper pad downstairs so we can look at it some more?" he asked. They hadn't worked on it in so long.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 20:55:46 GMT -5
Dare looked over at the bookshelf where he'd haphazardly shoved all his sketchbooks. He'd wanted them out of his sight, and he hadn't touched them since... was it only yesterday? It seemed like weeks. Of course, before yesterday it had been weeks. He'd lost his muse for drawing; it just wasn't relaxing anymore. It took Dare a moment to nod and go over to the shelf. He had to pull a few out before he found the right one, but he tucked it under his right arm. "Let's go," he said.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 21:03:18 GMT -5
Michael nodded and headed back out, nearly tripping over a lonesome Elouai that had curled up outside the door between the staircase and the shop. He bent down to rub at her shoulders and then went over to the counter and brought up another chair for Dare. With a couple of waves of the wand the door was unlocked and the sign once again said open. "Where do you want to start?" he asked as he sat in his chair and pulled the book towards him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 21:44:15 GMT -5
Dare glanced warily toward the door as he sat next to Michael, then forcibly turned his attention to the book they'd bought. He set his sketchbook and pencils aside until the time when he'd be forced to use them. "At the beginning, I guess," he told Michael. "I don't really know what's in there except what you've told me." And even that hadn't been spoken of with any real detail.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 22:01:10 GMT -5
Michael smiled and opened the book cover and flipped to the official opening of the book. It was about choosing the area and what to have at the ceremony or wedding. He had noticed the night before that, though the cover said wedding, the actual text tended more toward ceremony, perhaps to help those in his and Dare's position that couldn't have an actual wedding. He flipped through absently until he came on a little two page section about outdoors ceremonies. It talked about arches for the couple, seasons, and seating for the people. "I think...that it was a good idea to get this..." he said as he read.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 22:20:56 GMT -5
"Mmhm," Dare agreed, skimming the text in between glances up at Michael. His bad mood finally began to fade, and soon he'd reached his left hand across to slip over Michael's right. This was what he wanted more than anything, just sitting with Michael and getting to see him happy. For now, less than half of his attention was left for the book, though he told himself that if Michael asked for an opinion, he'd give one.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 20, 2009 22:35:47 GMT -5
Michael looked at the pictures of the arches and things and turned to look at Dare. "Do you think we should have something like this?" he asked, running his fingers over the still pictures. "I mean, we never figured out what to have where we stand." His eyes dropped down to the sketchbook Dare had and he couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness at knowing it was all real.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 21, 2009 23:31:32 GMT -5
Dare's lips curved the moment Michael looked at him. "Mmhm," he hummed, nodding almost absently. He realized he ought to actually look at the picture and dropped his gaze, trying to ignore Michael's fingers long enough to comment on it. "I hadn't thought of it being open like that, but I like it better," he managed. Mission accomplished, he let his eyes move over Michael's fingers now, forgetting his layout pad and pencils completely.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 21, 2009 23:38:03 GMT -5
"What had you thought about?" Michael asked, his head tilting. It was outside, what really could it be but open? When the door opened to admit another customer his eyes only rose briefly to the man as he spoke his usual greeting before turning his attention back to Dare. He didn't recognize the man, but he didn't think that anything would happen, just a customer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 21, 2009 23:49:31 GMT -5
Dare looked suspiciously at the man from behind his fringe, then forcibly turned his attention back to Michael. "I meant the... thing there. It's not an arch. I was thinking those round-top things with like, flowers all over them or something. I like this one better." Dare tapped the picture lightly, one of a view down the aisle to a small area sectioned off by columns with greenery and lighting at the tops. "I don't know how the Muggles did it, but it looks easy."
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Mar 21, 2009 23:56:12 GMT -5
"I really like that one," Michael said, nodding as he took in all of the details. "Do you want to try it?" He really liked the idea of it and thought it would be perfect. It wouldn't matter that there would barely be ten guests, it wasn't about the guests, anyway. "One second," he sighed, then stood to help the man that had been calling for him for a few moments. As he walked by, he couldn't help but let his hand trial lightly against Dare's back.
|
|
